NY jew accused of hiding mother’s death to collect Holocaust benefits

Queens man collected $56G in benefits meant for his mother, a Holocaust survivor, by lying about her death: DA

Gary Jacoby, 61, is accused of hiding the death of his mother, Laura Jacoby, who died in 2008, to cash in on benefits that she used to receive from the German government for being a Holocaust survivor. Gary Jacoby allegedly received the money from Feb. 2008 to Feb. 2012, and now faces grand larceny and forgery charges.

Gregg Vigliotti for New York Daily News Gary Jacoby leaves Queens Criminal Court on Thursday after being arraigned on charges of grand larceny and forgery.

The son of a Holocaust survivor hid his mom’s death and stole $56,000 in benefits meant for her, authorities said Thursday.

Gary Jacoby, 61, cashed in on his mother’s 2008 death by collecting her Holocaust survivor checks from the German government for four years, according to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.

Jacoby, from Forest Hills, was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on grand larceny and forgery charges. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

After Jacoby’s 93-year-old mother, Laura Jacoby, died in January 2008, her son colluded with a notary public to forge papers and keep the checks coming, the DA said.

The son pilfered $56,000 from the German government between Feb. 2008 and Feb. 2012, Brown said.

“The defendant is accused of unjustly enriching himself and as such must now face the consequences of his alleged actions,” Brown said.

Laura Jacoby was eligible for benefits from the Germans because of the treatment she endured during the Holocaust.

But the German government requires recipients to submit annual proof that the pensioner is still alive before it will release funds.

Jacoby allegedly submitted the life certificate forms to the German Pension Insurance Company for four years after his mother’s death, the criminal complaint said.

He presented the forms each year to a notary public to have the certificates notarized, the DA said.

The notary, who knew Jacoby and his mother, was aware that Laura Jacoby was dead, authorities said.

Frank Franklin II/AP Queens District Attorney Richard Brown (pictured) said Gary Jacoby faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

Jacoby even went so far as to appear at the German Embassy in March 2012 to testify that his mother was still alive, the Queens DA said.

Jacoby was released without bail Thursday. He’s due back in court Oct. 14.

“We are not guilty,” his wife snapped as they exited court.

Jacoby said he expects the charges against him to be dropped. He added that his mother “suffered through the concentration camps.”

His attorney Samuel Karliner said that Laura Jacoby applied for reparation checks in the 1960s but was rejected multiple times. It wasn’t until the 1990s that Germany finally approved her case and began payouts.

Karliner said if the allegations against his client were true an agreement could be reached to return the money.

“This arrest never had to happen. This arrest was about a press release,” he said, noting that the New York liaison to the German government insisted the case be prosecuted.

On his way out of the courthouse, Karliner said, a court officer stopped him and said “bastards.” The officer added that Jacoby should get to keep every penny, the lawyer said. “A lot of people think there's a lack of equity there,” Karliner claimed.


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